Ecuador Approves Oil Drilling in Amazon Rain Forest. (FULL ARTICLE)

OSCAR LEÓN, TRNN PRODUCER: On October 3, 2013, Ecuador’s National Assembly authorized the project to drill for oil in the Yasuní national forest, which is a biosphere reserve and home of endemic tribes and unique animal species.

It is estimated by the Ecuadorian government that in that area, there are around 920 millions barrels of crude oil, for which Ecuador could get up to 7 billion dollars, maybe more, some say much more, over the next 30 years. This accounts for 20 percent of the country’s oil reserves.

The Ecuadorian National Assembly passed the legislation, with 108 votes in favor against 25 authorizing the operation of the oil fields.

GABRIELA RIVADENEIRA, NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRWOMAN (SUBTITLED TRANSL.): We will drill for oil in blocks 31 and 43. The intangible zone is excluded, which is the south of the park, of course….

Related articles

• Chevron Sues Rainforest Communities It Contaminated (ecowatch.com)
• Plan to Drill in Yasuni National Park Divides Ecuadorians (selvavidasinfronteras.wordpress.com)
• Why Ecuador’s president has failed the country over Yasuní-ITT | Alberto Acosta (theguardian.com)